Officers of the BLS

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Dr. Paul Cannon - President
Paul Cannon has worked in fungal systematics for over half his life, moving over to the Dark Side after completing a PhD on legume classification. His early education at the Commonwealth Mycological Institute (subsequently IMI) included an appreciation that lichens are fungi too, and should be integrated into the overall fungal taxonomic scheme. Most of his professional life has involved studying leaf parasites, but he turned up at the BLS 50^th Anniversary Meeting at Nettlecombe in 2008 and unwisely volunteered to become Editor of the Bulletin. The lichen “bug” rapidly took hold, and his current interests revolve around fieldwork, lichen imaging and web development. He now works at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Contact Paul Cannon or by email on president@britishlichensociety.org.uk

Dr Rebecca Yahr - Vice President

Past President

Eluned Smith - Council Secretary Contact by email on ehsbiol@hotmail.co.uk
Sandy Coppins - Communications Secretary Contact by email on secretary@britishlichensociety.org.uk
John Skinner - Treasurer Contact John Skinner or by email on treasurer@britishlichensociety.org.uk
Dr. Janet Simkin - Recording Scheme, Database and Website Janet Simkin studied botany at Cambridge but her interest in lichens dates back even further, to a school project on churchyard lichens. She was distracted for a while by a career in software development before returning to academic life to research the ecology of the lichen-rich grasslands contaminated by lead mining. Now a freelance ecologist with a special interest in species-rich grasslands and plant communities, her work involves a fascinating but often confusing mix of research, surveys and teaching. In the BLS she has been involved in developing our database and website. Contact Janet Simkin or by email on records@britishlichensociety.org.uk
Prof. Peter Crittenden - Senior Editor of The Lichenologist Contact Peter Crittenden
Bryan Edwards - Conservation Officer and Chair of Conservation Committee Contact Bryan Edwards
Fay Newbery - Chair of Education and Promotions Committee Contact Fay Newbery or by email on fay.newbery@btinternet.com
Maxine Putnam - Bulletin Editor Maxine is assisted by Tony Holwill. Contact them both by email on bulletin@britishlichensociety.org.uk
Dr. Les Knight - Chair of Data Committee
Les Knight studied geology at Durham University where he went on to gain a PhD in mineralogy. He spent his professional life as a geologist working in the coal, gas and nuclear waste industries. His interest in lichens started literally by accident when his wife hurt her knee when out looking for mosses which prevented them from going on a trekking holiday. Instead they both attended an introductory course on lichens at the Malham Tarn Field Studies Council centre and became hooked. His main interest is in terrestrial lichens, especially those found in upland regions and those associated with areas of past lead mining. Contact Les Knight
Prof. Mark Seaward - Archivist and Mapping Recorder Contact Mark Seaward
Steve Price – Field Meetings Secretary
Steve Price worked as a nature reserves officer for Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. He first developed an interest in lichens to better understand some of the Peak District oak woodlands in his charge. A product of the Frank Dobson school of lichenology, Steve's interest in lichens developed further through contact with other experienced lichenologists in the BLS and soon became a passion. Steve is the lichen recorder for Derbyshire. Contact Steve Price or by email on fieldmeetings@britishlichensociety.org.uk
Richard Brinklow - Herbarium Curator Contact Richard Brinklow or by email on herbarium@britishlichensociety.org.uk
Theresa Greenaway - Librarian Contact Theresa Greenaway or by email on theresagreenaway@btinternet.com
Graham Boswell - Data Protection Officer Contact Graham Boswell or by email on togooutdoors@hotmail.com

Dr. Paul Cannon - President

Paul Cannon has worked in fungal systematics for over half his life, moving over to the Dark Side after completing a PhD on legume classification. His early education at the Commonwealth Mycological Institute (subsequently IMI) included an appreciation that lichens are fungi too, and should be integrated into the overall fungal taxonomic scheme. Most of his professional life has involved studying leaf parasites, but he turned up at the BLS 50^th Anniversary Meeting at Nettlecombe in 2008 and unwisely volunteered to become Editor of the Bulletin. The lichen “bug” rapidly took hold, and his current interests revolve around fieldwork, lichen imaging and web development. He now works at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Contact Paul Cannon or by email on president@britishlichensociety.org.uk

Dr Rebecca Yahr - Vice President

Past President

Dr. Janet Simkin - Recording Scheme, Database and Website

Janet Simkin studied botany at Cambridge but her interest in lichens dates back even further, to a school project on churchyard lichens. She was distracted for a while by a career in software development before returning to academic life to research the ecology of the lichen-rich grasslands contaminated by lead mining. Now a freelance ecologist with a special interest in species-rich grasslands and plant communities, her work involves a fascinating but often confusing mix of research, surveys and teaching. In the BLS she has been involved in developing our database and website.

Contact Janet Simkin or by email on records@britishlichensociety.org.uk

Prof. Peter Crittenden - Senior Editor of The Lichenologist

Contact Peter Crittenden

Bryan Edwards - Conservation Officer and Chair of Conservation Committee

Contact Bryan Edwards

Fay Newbery - Chair of Education and Promotions Committee

Contact Fay Newbery or by email on fay.newbery@btinternet.com

Maxine Putnam - Bulletin Editor

Maxine is assisted by Tony Holwill. Contact them both by email on bulletin@britishlichensociety.org.uk

Dr. Les Knight - Chair of Data Committee

Les Knight studied geology at Durham University where he went on to gain a PhD in mineralogy. He spent his professional life as a geologist working in the coal, gas and nuclear waste industries. His interest in lichens started literally by accident when his wife hurt her knee when out looking for mosses which prevented them from going on a trekking holiday. Instead they both attended an introductory course on lichens at the Malham Tarn Field Studies Council centre and became hooked. His main interest is in terrestrial lichens, especially those found in upland regions and those associated with areas of past lead mining.

Contact Les Knight

Prof. Mark Seaward - Archivist and Mapping Recorder

Contact Mark Seaward

Steve Price – Field Meetings Secretary

Steve Price worked as a nature reserves officer for Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. He first developed an interest in lichens to better understand some of the Peak District oak woodlands in his charge. A product of the Frank Dobson school of lichenology, Steve's interest in lichens developed further through contact with other experienced lichenologists in the BLS and soon became a passion. Steve is the lichen recorder for Derbyshire.